Lynn Beverly, Yoo Grace J, Levine Ellen G
Cancer Disparities Research Group, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA.
J Relig Health. 2014 Dec;53(6):1706-16. doi: 10.1007/s10943-013-9750-x.
Few studies have examined the role of religion and spirituality among African American breast cancer patients. This study explored how African American women cope with breast cancer through religious and spiritual practices. Forty-seven African American women who had completed treatment for breast cancer participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences. The majority of the women mentioned using both individual and communal religious and spiritual practices to cope with their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The main themes that emerged in terms of the types of religious and spiritual practices included: (1) attendance at religious services, (2) comfort through prayers of others, and (3) encouragement through reading Biblical scriptures. These practices helped women "trust in the Lord" throughout the many challenges of cancer from diagnosis through survivorship. Although this study is exploratory, the findings illustrate how African American women with breast cancer use religious and spiritual practices to cope with their diagnosis and treatment. For clinicians, the findings provides an understanding of spiritual and religious needs in diverse populations and the importance of referring patients onto spiritual and religious resources and support.
很少有研究探讨宗教和灵性在非裔美国乳腺癌患者中的作用。本研究探讨了非裔美国女性如何通过宗教和灵性实践来应对乳腺癌。47名完成乳腺癌治疗的非裔美国女性参与了关于她们经历的深入访谈。大多数女性提到使用个人和集体的宗教及灵性实践来应对她们的乳腺癌诊断和治疗。在宗教和灵性实践类型方面出现的主要主题包括：（1）参加宗教仪式，（2）通过他人的祈祷获得安慰，以及（3）通过阅读圣经经文获得鼓励。这些实践帮助女性在从诊断到康复的癌症诸多挑战中“信靠主”。尽管本研究是探索性的，但研究结果说明了患有乳腺癌的非裔美国女性如何利用宗教和灵性实践来应对她们的诊断和治疗。对于临床医生来说，这些发现有助于理解不同人群的灵性和宗教需求，以及将患者转介至灵性和宗教资源及支持的重要性。
